Gay pride march draws about 100 in Redding

Ed Disney, left, and his partner of 22 years David Disney shout out support for the gay community as they and about 100 others march Sunday from City Hall to the downtown mall. " Today is just a chance for the gay community to come out and say we're here we're good people and we're proud of ourselves, " said Ed Disney. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight

Around 100 people marched Sunday from City Hall to the downtown mall during the last event of this weekends gay pride festival. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight

Ed and David Disney marked their 22nd anniversary together Sunday with a march through downtown Redding toting handcrafted signs.

The gay couple wasn't alone in what organizers hope will be an annual gay pride march akin to the crowd-drawing San Francisco event that was in its 39th year Sunday.

"I am very impressed with the turnout today," said Ed Disney, 44.

About 100 people took part in the march from City Hall to the intersection of Tehama and Market streets, walking through the noontime heat on a quiet Sunday. Co-sponsored by Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo and NorCal OUTreach Project, the gay pride march came a day after the same groups held gay pride festival Saturday at the Planned Parenthood office.

Toni Donovan, a senior health educator with Planned Parenthood, said the festival had been a "great success" and organizers plan to make it and the march annual events. She said the march wasn't about sending a particular message.

"It's more about people getting to celebrate themselves," she said.

Many among the marchers Sunday said they'd also marched in San Francisco or elsewhere before.

British by birth, Richard Baker, 55, of Redding said he'd marched years ago in the first gay pride march Yorkshire, England. He said the march there was met with violence from protestors.

Baker said he'd worried some "rednecks" might cause similar problems in Redding.

"I'm surprised they had it here," Baker said.

But Sunday's event in Redding was peaceful. The marchers Sunday included roller skaters, a man in colorful drag and a man riding an electric wheelchair. Along with numerous signs, there were rainbow leis and an American flag with rainbow stripes.

"This is a big movement for Redding," said Chalece Nails, 21, of Redding. Nails marched with her girlfriend, Megan Fillmore, 18, also of Redding.

Nails said she'd recently moved to the north state from the Los Angeles area and had been to marches there. She said she'd only expected about 30 people to turn out for the Redding event.

Waiting for his turn to race at the Need 2 Speed Indoor Kart Racing, Steve Poe, 52, of Weed, was among those who saw the march make its way through downtown. He said he didn't have a problem with the display and it was just Americans exercising their right for free speech.